Editing Abseiling (section)

==Description==
[[File:Abseiling from building - Tokyo - Jan 17 2020.webm|thumb|Abseiling from a building in [[Japan]]]]
The technique is used by [[Climbing|climbers]], [[mountaineers]], [[Caving|cavers]], [[Canyoning|canyoners]], [[search and rescue]] and [[rope access]] technicians to descend cliffs or slopes when they are too steep or dangerous to descend without protection. Many climbers use this technique to protect established [[Anchor (climbing)|anchors]] from damage. Rope access technicians also use this as a method to access difficult-to-reach areas from above for various industrial applications like maintenance, construction, inspection and welding.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hill |first=Pete |date=2008 |title=The Complete Guide to Climbing and Mountaineering |publisher=David&Charles |page=67 |isbn=978-0-7153-2844-6}}</ref>

To descend safely, abseilers use a variety of techniques to increase the friction on the rope to the point where it can be controlled comfortably. These techniques range from wrapping the rope around their body (e.g. the [[Dülfersitz]] technique) to using custom-built devices like a [[Caving equipment#Standard equipment|rack]] or a [[Figure 8 (belay device)|figure of 8]]. Practitioners choose a technique based on speed, safety, weight and other circumstantial concerns.

In the United States, the term "rappelling" is used.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://11points.com/11-english-words-british-know-americans-dont/|title=11 English Words the British Know that Americans Don't|website=11points.com|access-date=2012-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=abseil%2Crappel%2Cabseiling%2Crappelling&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=17&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cabseil%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappel%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cabseiling%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappelling%3B%2Cc0|title=Google Ngram viewer: American English comparison of abseil, abseiling, rappel and rappelling|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, both terms are understood,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rappel|title=Oxford British & World English definition of rappel|access-date=2018-02-01}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but "abseiling" is more common.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rappel|title=rappel|publisher=Collins Dictionary|access-date=February 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=abseil%2Crappel%2Cabseiling%2C+rappelling&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cabseil%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappel%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cabseiling%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappelling%3B%2Cc0|title=Google Ngram viewer: comparison of British English usage of rappel, rappelling, abseil and abseiling|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref> In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the two terms are used interchangeably. Globally, the term "rappelling" appears in books written in English more often than "abseiling".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=abseil%2Crappel%2Cabseiling%2Crappelling&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cabseil%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappel%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cabseiling%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Crappelling%3B%2Cc0|title=Google Ngram viewer: English comparison of abseil, abseiling, rappel and rappelling|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref>